COLLIER COUNTY — We’re hearing from neighbors in Collier County who just learned that a man they lived next to for years was arrested for child porn.
44-year-old Philipas Batsios faces more than 75 charges after deputies found naked pictures and videos of children on his phone.
“It’s insane. It’s kind of sickening actually, my stomach hurts a little bit," said Kaleigh Cecil, who says she lives three doors down from Batsios.
The Sheriff's Office says Batsios' victims ranged from 2 to 12 years old.
“That’s really concerning that someone like that has been here and no one knew about it," said Cecil.
Other neighbors we spoke with say they’re concerned, because a lot of families lived near Batsios on Hickory Wood Dr.
“Very open, friendly street with, you know kids run around, they talk to each other. We wouldn’t expect something like that to happen," said Sheyen Lachat.
Lachat says her family has kids that were the same age as some of the alleged victims. In addition to downloading child porn, the Sheriff’s Office says Batsios took videos and pictures himself.
He ran a pool cleaning company called Go Blue Pools, and when he went to people’s houses, the Sheriff’s Office says he would sometimes secretly take videos up the dress or skirt of women and girls. In another instance, the Sheriff’s Office says he came to a Winn Dixie and filmed up the dress of a young girl as she was helping her mother load groceries into the car.
“It’s a relief to hear that it got found out, it’s being dealt with. It’s just concerning because then you wonder, what else is going on, and who else, and if there’s other things like that that we should be concerned with that you wouldn’t think you would have to be," said Lachat.
The Sheriff’s Office says Batsios was already on probation for another incident in Lee County, where he filmed a woman while she was showering. And they believe there could be more victims.
That’s why the Sheriff’s Office is asking people to call the non-emergency number at (239) 252-9300 if they have any informations. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).
